Happy Valentine's Day! - Nature Rocks

Happy Valentine's Day, my friends!

How many heart shaped things can you find in nature? I found this one at the beach. The heart below was discovered in my kitchen.

Happy HEART hunting!

Will You Be My Valenswine? - Picture Book & Activity

Will You Be My Valenswine?
By Teresa Bateman
Illustrated by Kristina Stephenson
(Scholastic, Inc., 2005)

Will You Be My Valenswine? is a funny, rhyming story about a piglet who has no one to love. Everyone else in the barnyard has someone special, but not poor Polly. Read this fun book to find out who loves Polly the best.

Kids will giggle when they hear valenswine instead of valentine. Never fear, Polly finds her valenswine love. (Hint: M-o-m-m-y)

KID KANDY:

Sing a Valenswine song!

To the tune of "Merrily We Roll Along," sing:

Won't you be my valenswine,
Valenswine, valenswine,
Won't you be my valenswine,
Here's a heart for you!

Substitute valentine for valenswine for more holiday fun.

I love to let kids cut out construction paper hearts to go along with this song. Give each child a heart and sing the song. On the last line, let the kiddos trade hearts with each other. Make sure you get in on the heart trading fun!

Angie Quantrell loves to read and write children's picture books, sing silly songs, and dream up fun activities for the children in her life.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please sign up to receive future blog posts in your email inbox. Thanks! Happy Valenswine's Day!

The Night Before Valentine's Day - Picture Book & Activity

The Night Before Valentine's Day
By Natasha Wing
Illustrated by Heidi Petach
(Scholastic Inc., 2000)

We all know 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, a right jolly old Christmas rhyme and classic Christmas story.

The Night Before Valentine's Day is based on the same rhythm and cadence as the Christmas classic. But I dare say that the Valentine version is much sillier and takes place in the lives of classmates. Making Valentine's cards, putting up decorations, playing games, and eating party foods are all a part of the holiday fun. But beware of the visit from an interesting character who dispenses a special gift.

All in good fun.

KID KANDY:

Chocolate Play Dough

No kidding! Chocolate play dough smells great. It looks like the real thing though, so watch those tasting little mouths.

Recipe:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup cocoa
1 cup salt
2 T. baby oil
1 T. alum
3 cups boiling water

1. Add together and mix dry ingredients.

2. Add baby oil and alum to dry mix.

3. Add boiling water.

4. Stir well with a wooden spoon. Dump out onto a well floured counter. (This dough tends to be a bit sticky. Add more flour as needed.)

5. Use a spatula and egg turner to scoop and mix all of the dough. As soon as you can handle the dough (it will still be very hot), knead it well.

6. When the dough is smooth and well mixed, let it cool. Store in a large plastic lidded container.


I like to collect empty Valentine candy heart boxes to use with the play dough. Small heart and shape cookie cutters add excitement to the sweet smelling fun. Provide butter knives and rolling pins to allow children to create play dough candies to their hearts content.

Angie Quantrell adores chocolate in any form, edible or not. Play dough ranks up there as one of her favorite necessary activities for excellent fine motor skill development. Dig out that messy dough!

Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink - Picture Books - Wacky Wednesday

Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink
By Diane de Groat
(Mulberry Books, 1996)

Wacky Wednesday brings a silly and humorous Valentine's Day picture book in Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink.

Gilbert had to get ready for his Valentine's Day party, which meant he had to write on his valentine cards. Gilbert had much success making up rhymes for friends. But his results for those he didn't really like were not as nice. Those poems were actually awful and unkind.

Read about the party disaster and how Gilbert was able to make amends to the friends he slighted in Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink. Readers will learn about kindness and getting along with others in this holiday picture book.

KID KANDY:

Decorate Valentine Heart Cookies

~ Bake or buy heart shaped cookies. Sugar cookies are best, especially if you let your child helper cut them out with heart cookie cutters. Chocolate chip heart cookies would taste very nice as well.

~ Put white frosting in a bowl. Add purple (or red + blue) food coloring drop by drop, mixing and adding more drops until you get the desired color.

~ Messy, yes. But that's what soap and water are for. Put a dollop of icing on the middle of a cookie and let your child spread it around. Continue with other cookies.

~ Provide an assortment of seasonal or favorite candies. Let your child add decorations on top of the icing (which is the glue). Cinnamon red hots, conversation hearts, sprinkles, M&M's, chocolate chips, or whatever else you have on hand is perfect.

~ Eat one or two.

~ Share the sugar wealth. Wrap extra cookies with plastic wrap or self-zipping bags. Give them to teachers, grandparents, neighbors, church members, friends ... anyone that will help take a sugar load off of your hands.

~ Most of the fun is in the mess making. But letting little ones help clean up is a valuable lesson. Soapy water, dish cloths (rung out, or else, tidal wave), and some sort of cleaning sing-song diddy, and you are off and running.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Angie Quantrell enjoys both writing and reading children's picture books. Kids are her favorite people.